Microsoft News Update

Microsoft news of the past few days: Media Player 9 is the subject of a few articles, including one on its integrated digital restrictions and one on changes in its privacy options. Microsoft is releasing certain API's, and is releasing a service pack for Windows XP, under the requirements of its antitrust settlement with the Federal Gov't. On the downside, code to crash any modern Windows machine with NetBIOS enabled is now floating around the net, and there's been more publicity of the vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS/SSL.

Netbios...

[kc0dby]

I mean come on... We've been nuking win95 machines since '96... It's time to find a new protocol!

Well...

[graphicartist82]

On the downside, code to crash any modern Windows machine with NetBIOS enabled is now floating around the net

Well, one good way to help the propagation along would be to post a link to it on slashdot so thousands of script kiddies can get ahold of it... oh wait..

Hasn't this been around for a while?

[Hayzeus]

I was under the impression that the ability to crash a windows box with malformed NetBIOS data had actually been around for quite some time.

Apparently, you can also crash a Windows box by pouring beer into the fan outlet of the power supply. Code to be posted soon.

Re:Microsoft news update:

[Queuetue]

Five years, and they still can't spell assimilated?

Re:Hasn't this been around for a while?

[skin_job]

"Apparently, you can also crash a Windows box by pouring beer into the fan outlet of the power supply. Code to be posted soon" Great!! I was able to get the desired results once, but since then have been unable to duplicate the effect. I have had no problem, however, with Microsoft's integrated equivelant.

Re:Crash Windows

[Alcohol Fueled]

I thought Windows already came with a code to crash it. That being Windows itself.

Re:Real smart!

[idontneedanickname]

What's this "think" you're talking about? Can you eat that?

My MS Activation Story: True Story.

[KelsoLundeen]

And MS plans (apparently) to "bomb" any cracked installations of XP. (I gather some sort of cracked DLL or file monkeyed with the WPA and allowed for pseudo-activation.)

MS is still not clear about this. But I'm curious if MS finally got the hint and is now planning to keep a database of all "authentic" Windows XP keys. If this is the case, then I assume the various keygens won't work. (Or they'll work, but when it comes time to activate, you'll find that you don't actually have an "authentic" key.)

Slightly OT, but I thought I'd share my own XP activation experience. It happened last night and it bascially stumped Microsoft.

The short story goes something like this: I'm an MSDN subscriber. My MSDN subscription entitles me to Windows XP keys that will activate up to 10 pcs. So far so good.

Anyway, I go to the MSDN site, log in with my usual username and password. Generate my keys. Get my "10 activation" key for Office XP, Pro XP, Home XP.

Now, according to the license, these generated keys will activate 10 pcs for each application. (In other words, I can put WinXP Pro on my workstation at work and my workstation at home. This counts as two "activations" on two different PCs and is completely within the terms of the license. Each computer, of course, has to be for "development" purposes -- which, oddly enough, they are. My computer at home is actually a computer I use when I telecommute. And I develop on it. So, again, I'm completely within the terms of license agreement.)

Okay, so that's the background. Here's the good part: I install WinXP Pro on my home "work" workstation using the MSDN supplied key. (The copy of WinXP Pro I'm installing, BTW, is the ISO I downloaded from the MSDN site. The copy of Windows XP I'm legally entitled to according to the terms of my MSDN unverisal subscription.)

The MSDN issued key passes the first XP keycheck -- the check that appears before it actually installs. No complaints, install goes smoothly. I boot to the desktop. All's fine. Looks like it installed perfectly.

Except Windows tells me my key is no good.

But wait! It *took* the key when it asked for it, right? Yes. It took it.

I re-enter the key. (And, yes, I'm using the MSDN supplied key on the MSDN ISO -- not the volume license CD, the actual ISO downloaded from the MSDN site.)

Still says my key is no good. It then generates an installation ID -- an obscenely long number -- and tells me that I have to call the 1-888 toll-free activation center.

I call. I give my installation ID. Wait, I'm told, that's not the right installation ID. Generate another one.

I generate another installation ID. (There's a button that can do this when you install XP.)

I read it back. It's still not a valid installation ID.

The activation center guy said he never saw this happen before. Am I reading the correct ID? Did I transpose any digits?

Nope. It's all correct. Read it from right to left, he tells me. I do. Read it from left to right, he tells me. I do.

Wow, he says. I've never seen this before. You have a valid key, he tells me, but Windows is generating an *incorrect* installation ID.

I say, well, I don't care what's going on, I want this thing activated.

Pause. Sir? Can you read me the ID again?

I do. This is the sixth or seventh time I read the ID. Nope, he tells me. Still no good. He puts me on hold. I stay on hold. Sir, he tells me. I'm sorry. Sorry? We can't do anything. You what?

We've never seen this before.

You're kidding.

If you have a correct key, you should get a correct installation ID.

Yes, I say.

Can you read me your key?

I read it. Read it again. And again.

Sir?

Yes?

The key is correct.

I know the key is correct.

Can I put you on hold again?

So I sit and wait. And wait. All told, I've been "activating" for 30 minutes by this time.

Guy comes back on the phone. Sir? We can't do anything.

You're kidding.

He apologizes. He tells me again that he's never seen this happen. You're sure you're using a legit copy?

I explain my MSDN subscription (active, BTW), my MSDN key, my MSDN ISO download.

I'm sorry, he tells me. Try MSDN.

I call MSDN.

Go through the same thing.

Wow, the MSDN tech support guy says. I've never seen this before.

What now?

Good question, he tells me.

He puts me on hold. Consults with a manager.

Sir? There's nothing we can do.

Give me another key.

I can't. I don't have authorization.

Give me someone who has authorization.

We can't generate another key until the morning.

You're kidding. I'm stuck?

I'm afraid so. I've never seen this before, he says.

By this time I'm furious. I want this motherfucker activated.

Finally, the guy puts me on hold.

Sir? I've got a brand new copy of Windows Pro Retail. In my hands. I'm going to read you the key. But you didn't get this from me.

You're giving me another key?

You didn't get this from me, he repeats.

He reads the key. I read it back. That's all I can do, sir, he tells me.

I appreciate it. (Trying to stay calm.) Thank you.

I'm only doing this because you've got a problem we can't fix. You have a valid key, but it's not generating a valid installation ID.

By this time, over an hour has passed. I'm still trying to activate.

He has me enter the new key. I enter it. Try to activate. Comes up with a message: "This key has no more activations."

I wig out. You're fucking shitting me, I tell me. You're fucking shitting me.

Okay, he says. He explains that we'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to get the key re-activated. He'll make sure it gets re-activated first thing. But that's all we can do, he says. I can't do any more tonight.

I tell him that this -- my situation -- is why people pirate software. It's quicker to get a keygen and generate a phony key than to go through this, waste my time and waste my money.

He's sympathetic. I understand, he says. But we'll get this fixed.

Then: Sir?

Yes?

You didn't get that key from me.

Flash forward: right now. It's the next morning. I'm at my desk. I'm reading Slashdot. I'm on hold with Microsoft tech support. I've called three different tech supoort numbers this morning.

They cannot get my copy of Windows XP Pro activated. They cannot re-activate the "mystery" key that my friend last night gave me.

This is the first time they've seen this problem.

Can we get some more specifics? they ask me.

New hard drive, new CDROM, new motherboard. Everything is new.

They're mystified.

I'm still on hold. I'm reading Slashdot while I'm on hold.

A moment ago: Sir? Can you read your key?

I read it.

Yep, they tell me. That's a valid key. Wow. I've never seen this before.

Re:Oh that's very responsible of you, SlashDot

[vsack]

But to link directly to the crash-windows-in-one-easy-step binary? That's just plain irresponsible.

But, to be fair, they linked to a Windows executable. What self-respecting /. reader would stoop to running that code?

The Ultimate Script Kiddie

[Sloppy]

Oh goodie, it runs under WINE.

Re:Real smart!

[jsse]

HMM... as if script kiddies don't have it easy enough, lets put a link to a 'crash' script on the front page of slashdot... Do the editors on slashdot ever think before they post links?

You are absolutely right! /. editors are bastards! Do they understand kids nowaday?! Give them knives they'll kill; give them games they'll not go to school; give them money they'll spend on drugs. Do they ever think of the children? Do they really want our kids sending us back to dark age with these tool?! I want my kids become a MCSE, not some kind of script kiddies!

Re:My MS Activation Story: True Story.

[Salsaman]

And they say Linux is hard to install.

Re:Crash Windows

[eddy]

I have yet to see ANY software put out by ANYONE that is bug free

YOU FOOL! Everyone knows TeX is bug free :-)

Re:My MS Activation Story: True Story.

[Fortyseven]

Sir, can you read me the ID again?

Re:Source code

[GregWebb]

An exorcism?

<duck>

Re:Also

[grytpype]

>Yes, I'm talking to you with the key that starts with FCKGW. I've always wondered if those letters were intentional...

FCKGW? Fuck George Washington? Must be the British!

Re:My MS Activation Story: True Story.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, eventually, every hardware company you call is going to react like this:

*RING*...*RING*...
"Good afternoon, foobar limited, may I have your license number please"
"I don't think I have one, I bought this machine second hand, and want to buy a part for it"
"Err, sorry, I cannot advise you without a valid license number. What is your license numer?"
"I don't know"
"Sorry, I cannot advise you without a valid license number. What is your license number?"
"Well, where would I find it if I had one"
"On the back of the case. What is your license numer?"
"OK, I'm looking - whereabouts on the back of the case?"
"Sorry, I cannot advise you without a valid license number. What is your license number?"
"Can I just buy a license agreement."
"Yes, but I cannot advise you how to do that without a valid license number. What is your license numer?"
"Err, blah, blah, foo, bar, baz, foobar. That is my license number"
"OK Sir, you can buy a license with your credit card"
"But I just gave you my license number"
"Yes. That was a valid license number, but you invalidated it by saying you wanted to buy a new one"
"WHAT?"
"Your license agreement has been terminated... Sorry, I cannot advise you without a valid license number. What is your license numer?"
"123456789."
"OK Sir, you can buy a license with your credit card"
"How much is it?"
"200,000 U.K. Pounds. Do you wish to proceed, if you answer anything but yes, your call will be terminated"
"Yes"
"Please enter your credit card number using the buttons on the keypad"
*Presses buttons*
"OK, your license agreement for software support is active."
"OK, can I buy a part for my machine now?"
"No."
"WHAT?"
"No."
"WHY?"
"You have a software license agreement, not a hardware license agreement"
"But you just solds it to me."
"Yes."
"Well, can I change it?"
"No."
"Can I upgrade?"
"No, not until your current license agreement expires."
"When is that?"
"1st January 3010."
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Sorry , I cannot advise you without a valid license number. What is your license number?"
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Sorry , ARGH is not a valid license number. What is your license number?"
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Sorry , Sir, I will have to end this call."
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Re:Release of API

[Anonymous Coward]

what Microsoft has got in there is a grotesque, badly-documented pile of poo it doesn't fully understand itself

So what you are saying is we are sure it is genuine?